Welcome to the ninth post in my Author Spotlight series! Every month, I showcase an indie author and interview them to find out more about their writing life.
This month, the author in the spotlight is Jenny Hickman! I found Jenny's books on Instagram and instantly fell in love because they have absolutely gorgeous covers. I knew I had to read them, and I did not regret it. I have read both The PAN and The HOOK, and I am itching to read The CROC to see how the trilogy wraps up. If you're a fan of Peter Pan and you like reading YA, her series could be a great fit for you!
Bio: Jenny grew up in Oakland, Maryland and currently lives in County Tipperary, Ireland with her husband & two tyrannical children. Her love of reading blossomed the summer after graduating high school, when she borrowed a paperback romance from her mother during the annual family beach vacation.
From that sunny day forward, she has been a lover of stories with Happily-Ever-Afters. Jenny is the author of The PAN Trilogy, a YA-scifi romance with a Peter Pan twist. The first book in her new series, A Cursed Kiss, is set to release in November 2021.
Q: What made you want to be a writer?
A: Reading romance novels when I was in college.
Q: How do you choose your characters’ names?
A: I have a list of names I’ve been slowly compiling for years. When I get the bones of the story in place, I see which one suits the character’s personality traits.
Q: Have any of your characters surprised you? If so, how?
A: All my characters surprise me. I usually know how the beginning and end of my stories will play out and let them dictate the middle. Their voices are so unique and different, and I love the little details they share while I’m drafting.
Q: Do you have any writing rituals? (e.g., lighting a candle before you write, meditating before you write, going for a walk to get ideas)
A: I get rid of the kids and hide away somewhere no one can find me so I can write for as long as possible.
Q: How much research do you do, and how long do you spend on research for one book?
A: For The PAN Trilogy I had to research a good bit on genetics and for my new series, I did loads of research on celtic fairy lore and Irish mythology. I don’t have a set amount of time I spend researching. I find what I need then get back to writing as quickly as possible.
Q: Do you have any specific authors or books that you've learned from on your writing journey?
A: Dynamic Story Creation in Plain English: Drake’s Brutal Writing Advice by Maxwell Alexander Drake and On Writing by Stephen King. I also love the Writer’s Thesauruses (Setting & Emotion) by Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi.
Q: How did publishing your first book change your writing process?
A: Publishing my first book made me more aware of craft and editing to make a story flow better so that my first drafts don’t need quite as much work.
Q: What’s your number one tip for tackling imposter syndrome?
A: Don’t compare yourself to others. Everyone’s publishing journey is different. Take yours and run with it.
Q: What is your go-to snack and/or drink while writing?
A: I don’t really snack while I’m writing (I’m too afraid of but getting food on my keyboard), but I always have a bottle of water on hand to stay hydrated.
Q: What are you currently working on?
A: The sequel to A Cursed Kiss and the second book in the Myths of Airren series, A Cursed Heart as well as an untitled romantasy novella that will be releasing in Summer 2022.
If you'd like to follow Jenny on her writing journey or find out more about her stories, this is where you can find her:
Website: jennyhickman.com
Instagram: @authorjennyhickman
Facebook: Jenny Hickman
Twitter: @jennyrhickman
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